When the Mosque was converted to a Cathedral almost all the outer doors were sealed. During Moorish times, the many open doors of the Mosque let in light which made it brighter and one would imagine a more welcoming place than it is today.

The Mezquita is a large structure, taking up a good city block.

A section of the Cathedral and its elaborate ceiling

It is almost impossible to portray this masterpiece of architecture appropriately in photographs. The repeating arches and soaring ceiling are balanced by exquisite detail decorations Inside the Mezquita are row after row of arches and pillars. Marble was required for the Mosque's construction. Many of the pillars in the Mezquita were pilfered from earlier Roman buildings. If the pillar was too long, it was sunk into the ground and reshaped to fit in with the other columns.

All around the perimeter of the Mezquita are chapels each dedicated to a Saint.

The entrance to the "mihrab" (Islamic prayer room) is adorned with Byzantine mosaics and bordered by Koran inscriptions done in gold.

Elaborate arches.When the Mosque was converted into a Cathedral a third of the pillars were removed for a court yard. In the center of what is left of the mosque, the arches were reworked and the ceiling raised. the Mezquita is Open:

Monday-Sat.. 10:00 to 17:30, Sunday 14:00 to 17:30 (until 19:00 in summer). you can get in at 9:00 as mass goes on. It is 750 pesetas to enter. Enter the Mezquita through the court yard.